WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced the introduction of a bipartisan resolution to mark the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. The resolution celebrates the immeasurable contributions that Native Americans have made to our nation through their diverse cultures, rich heritages, and unique traditions.

“During Native American Heritage Month, we recognize and celebrate the influence of Native Americans on the arts, languages, and cultures of New Mexico and the United States. From the Iroquois Confederacy to World War II Code Talkers and beyond, Native American communities have shaped the United States by helping to write every chapter of our country’s history. In New Mexico, the bedrock of who we are as a state and a people is rooted in the contributions of Native leaders, languages, and traditions from each of our state’s 23 Tribes and Pueblos. And this year, with the historic election of New Mexico’s first Native American representative to Congress, Native American Heritage Month is particularly noteworthy for our state,” Udall said. “As we continue to honor these great accomplishments, we must also use this time to pause and reflect on how we can better stand with Native communities to strengthen Tribal sovereignty, promote Tribal self-determination, and expand opportunities throughout Indian Country. I take great pride in representing the Tribes and Pueblos of New Mexico and, as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I’m committed to continuing my work with Tribal leaders to address Indian Country’s most pressing challenges and to uphold the federal trust relationship through meaningful government-to-government consultation.”

“I take pride in representing and working closely with New Mexico’s Tribal communities,” Heinrich said. “Native American Heritage Month is a time for us to celebrate and honor the unique cultural heritage and remarkable contributions of our Native American communities. And this year, I’m especially proud that New Mexicans elected Deb Haaland to serve with us as one of the first Native American women in Congress. I look forward to working alongside her to protect Tribal sovereignty and ensure that the federal government meets its trust responsibility to our Tribes.”